Tire vulcanizing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention provide a tire vulcanizing apparatus which can reduce a time loss and can efficiently vulcanize and mold employing a tire loading apparatus for positively loading the green tire, and forming a moving unit in which the tire loading apparatus and the lower mold are integrally connected.  
     The tire vulcanizing apparatus is provided with a tire loading apparatus ( 2 ) which loads a green tire (T 1 ) at a tire loading position (X 1 ) and moves the green tire to a tire supplying position (X 2 ), a tire elevating apparatus ( 5 ) which elevates at the tire supplying position so as to receive the green tire on the tire loading apparatus and sets the green tire to a lower mold ( 3 ), and an upper mold ( 6 ) which elevates at a tire vulcanizing position (X 3 ) so as to vulcanize and mold the green tire with respect to the lower mold, the tire loading apparatus and the lower mold are simultaneously reciprocated between the respective positions by reciprocating a moving unit ( 1 ) in which the tire loading apparatus and the lower mold are integrally connected is formed.

1. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tire vulcanizing apparatus forcontinuously vulcanizing and molding a green-tire (a raw tire).

2. BACKGROUND ART

In conventional technique, a tire vulcanizing apparatus for continuouslyvulcanizing and molding a green tire is provided with a cradle forreceiving the green tire, an upper mold and a lower mold for vulcanizingand molding the green tire, and a tire elevating apparatus for settingthe green tire to the lower mold.

The molding step is executed by mounting the green tire on the cradle,temporarily holding the green tire by the tire elevating apparatus,thereafter setting the green tire to the lower mold, and vulcanizing andmolding the green tire between the lower mold and the upper mold.

The applicant of the present invention has already proposed a tirevulcanizing apparatus which solves a time loss in the molding step(Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-158447).

The prior tire vulcanizing apparatus is structured, as shown in FIGS.3A, 3B, 3C and 3D, such that a tire supplying apparatus 80 receives agreen tire T at a tire receiving position M1, and is provided with acradle 81 which moves the received green tire T to a tire supplyingposition M2, a tire elevating apparatus 83 which elevates at the tiresupplying position M2 so as to hold the green tire T on the cradle 81,and sets the green tire T to a lower mold 82, and an upper mold 84 whichelevates at a tire vulcanizing position M3 so as to vulcanize and moldthe green tire T with respect to the lower mold 82.

Further, the structure is made such that a moving unit 8 in which thecradle 81 and the lower mold 82 are integrally connected is formed, andthe lower mold 82 is reciprocated between the tire supplying position M2and the tire vulcanizing position M3 at the same time when the cradle 81is moved between the tire receiving position M1 and the tire supplyingposition M2 by reciprocating the moving unit 8.

In the prior tire vulcanizing apparatus, since the moving unit 8 inwhich the cradle 81 and the lower mold 82 are integrally connected isformed, the green tire T is supplied to the cradle 81 from the tiresupplying apparatus 80 at a time of setting the green tire T to thelower mold 82 by the tire elevating apparatus 83, the lower mold 82 ismoved to the tire vulcanizing position M3 from the tire supplyingposition M2 by setting the green tire T to the lower mold 82 andthereafter moving the moving unit 8, and the cradle 81 is moved to thetire supplying position M2 from the tire receiving position M1.

However, since the cradle 81 has been conventionally used, the cradle 81is supplied with the green tire T in a passive attitude in which thecradle 81 waits for the green tire T supplied from the tire supplyingapparatus 80 at the tire receiving position M1.

Accordingly, in the case that the cradle 81 is provided, the tiresupplying apparatus 80 is required as an essential element, and there isrequired an operation that the tire supplying apparatus 80 elevates atthe receiving position M1, receives the green tire T at an ascentposition thereof, and passes the received green tire T to the cradle 81at a descent position.

As mentioned above, in the case that the cradle 81 is provided, since itis necessary to move the cradle 81 (the moving unit 8) in correspondenceto an elevating timing of the tire supplying apparatus 80, a movingtiming of the lower mold 82 which forms the moving unit 8 together withthe cradle 81 is affected.

As a result, an influence is generated in a motion timing of the tireelevating apparatus 83 which sets the green tire T to the lower mold 82,and the upper mold 84 which vulcanizes and molds the green tire T withrespect to the lower mold 82. Accordingly, there is left a problem thata time loss is increased such that it is necessary to set a waiting timeof each of the apparatuses long.

The present invention is made in order to solve the problem mentionedabove, and an object of the present invention is to provide atire-vulcanizing apparatus which can reduce a time loss and canefficiently vulcanize and mold by excluding the cradle and the tiresupplying apparatus, employing a tire loading apparatus for positivelyloading the green tire, and forming a moving unit in which the tireloading apparatus and the lower mold are integrally connected.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the object mentioned above, in accordance with thepresent invention, there is provided a tire vulcanizing apparatuscomprising:

-   -   a tire loading apparatus which loads a green tire at a tire        loading position and moves the loaded green tire to a tire        supplying position;    -   a tire elevating apparatus which elevates at the tire supplying        position so as to receive the green tire on the tire loading        apparatus and sets the green tire to a lower mold; and    -   an upper mold which elevates at a tire vulcanizing position so        as to vulcanize and mold the green tire with respect to the        lower mold,    -   wherein a moving unit in which the tire loading apparatus and        the lower mold are integrally connected is formed, and    -   wherein the tire loading apparatus and the lower mold are        simultaneously reciprocated between the respective positions by        reciprocating the moving unit.

In accordance with the invention, the lower mold reciprocates betweenthe tire supplying position and the tire vulcanizing position at thesame time when the tire loading apparatus reciprocates between the tireloading position and the tire supplying position, on the basis of thereciprocation of the moving unit.

Since three positions comprising the tire loading position, the tiresupplying position and the tire vulcanizing position are set asmentioned above, each of the tires sequentially moves to one forwardposition in accordance with one reciprocation of the moving unit, andthe next process is applied at each of the moved positioned.

Accordingly, it is possible to improve an operation efficiency of acontinuous operation comprising tire loading, tire supplying and tirevulcanizing.

Further, since the tire loading apparatus positively loads the greentire at the tire loading position, it is possible to exclude the cradleand the tire supplying apparatus as is different from the conventionalstructure.

Accordingly, it is possible to exclude an influence applied to each ofthe apparatuses generated together with the matter that it is necessaryto move the cradle in correspondence to the elevating timing of the tiresupplying apparatus, it is possible to reduce a time loss and it ispossible to efficiently vulcanize and mold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view for explaining an operation of a tirevulcanizing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the tire vulcanizing apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining an operation of a conventionalvulcanizing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description will be given below of a mode for carrying out the presentinvention on the basis of an embodiment shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view for explaining an operation of a tirevulcanizing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the tire vulcanizingapparatus.

In the tire vulcanizing apparatus, three positions comprising a tireloading position X1, a tire supplying position X2 and a tire vulcanizingposition X3 are sequentially arranged at the same arrangement intervalL.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a moving unit. The movingunit 1 is structured such that a tire loading apparatus 2 and a lowermold 3 are integrally connected, an interval between the tire loadingapparatus 2 and the lower mold 3 is kept in the arrangement interval L,and the lower mold 3 is reciprocated between the tire supplying positionX2 and the tire vulcanizing position X3 at the same time when the tireloading apparatus 2 is reciprocated between the tire receiving positionX1 and the tire supplying position X2.

In this case, it is preferable that the moving unit 1 is structured inan optionally movable aspect by assembling the tire loading apparatus 2and the lower mold 3 in a self-propelled supply car or the like.

The tire loading apparatus 2 loads a green tire T1 at the tire loadingposition X1, and moves the loaded green tire T1 to the tire supplyingposition X2.

In this case, the tire loading apparatus 2 has a pair of right and leftarms 20 and 20 which can be opened and closed in a lateral direction,and holds the green tire T1 on a tire stock 4 (shown in FIG. 2) whileclamping between the arms 20 and 20 in accordance with movement of apair of right and left arms 20 and 20 in an opposing direction at thetire loading position X1. Next, the tire loading apparatus 2 moves tothe tire supplying position X2 in this state, and releases the greentire T1 on the basis of the movement of the arms 20 and 20 in adisengaging direction, at a time when the tire elevating apparatus 5grips the green tire T1.

In this case, the tire stock 4 has a turn table 40 mounting a pluralityof (three in the embodiment) green tires T1 thereon at a uniforminterval, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, and moves each of the greentires T1 sequentially to the tire loading position X1 on the basis of aturning motion of the turn table 40, and each of the green tires T1 isloaded sequentially by the tire loading apparatus 2.

The green tire T1 may be supplied to the turn table 40 on the basis of amanual operation by a worker or may be supplied by a supplying apparatusfor exclusive use.

The green tire T1 may be directly supplied to the tire loading positionX1 on the basis of a manual operation without using the turn table.

The lower mold 3 vulcanizes and molds the green tire T1 with respect toan upper mold 6 mentioned below, and is provided with a center mechanism(not shown) for shaping the green tire T1 by a bladder in a centerthereof.

The tire elevating apparatus 5 is provided at the tire supplyingposition X2 so as to freely elevate. The tire elevating apparatus 5ascends to an ascent position after receiving the green tire T1 on thetire loading apparatus 2 at a descent position Y1, and next descends soas to set the green tire T1 to the lower mold 3.

The upper mold 6 is provided in the tire vulcanizing position X3 so asto freely elevate. The upper mold 6 vulcanizes and molds the green tireT1 with respect to the lower mold 3 at a descent position Y3, thereafter ascends to an ascent position Y4 while holding the vulcanized tireT2, and passes the vulcanized tire T2 to the next step (for example, apressurizing and cooling apparatus: PCI apparatus) at an ascent positionY4.

In the tire vulcanizing apparatus in accordance with the presentembodiment, when the tire loading apparatus 2 positively loads the greentire T1 from the turn table 40 of the tire stock 4 at the tire loadingposition X1 (FIG. 1A), the green tire T1 is moved to the tire supplyingposition X2 on the basis of the movement of the moving unit 1 (FIG. 1C).

In this case, during a period that the tire loading apparatus 2 loadsthe green tire T1, the tire elevating apparatus 5 which has already heldthe green tire T1 is descended at the tire supplying position X2, andsets the green tire T1 to the lower mold 3 at the descent position Y1(FIG. 1B), and the lower mold 3 in which the green tire T1 is set ismoved to the tire vulcanizing position X3 on the basis of the movementof the moving unit 1 (FIG. 1C).

When the tire loading apparatus 2 loading the green tire T1 from theturn table 40 in the manner mentioned above is, moved to the tiresupplying position X2 (FIG. 1C), the tire elevating apparatus 5 isdescended here so as to receive the green tire T1 (FIG. 1D), and waitsat the ascent position Y2 (FIG. 1E).

In this case, the already supplied green tire T1 is vulcanized andmolded by the upper mold 6 and the lower mold 3 at the tire vulcanizingposition X3 during this period (FIG. 1D).

When the vulcanization and molding of the green tire T1 is finished bythe upper mold 6 and the lower mold 3 at this tire vulcanizing positionX3, the vulcanized tire T2 is ascended to the ascent position Y4 in astate of being held by the upper mold 6 (FIG. 1E), and is passed to thenext step (for example, the pressurizing and cooling apparatus: PCIapparatus).

In this case, when the upper mold 6 is ascended while holding thevulcanized tire T2 as mentioned above, the green tire T1 on the tireloading apparatus 2 is received by the tire elevating apparatus 5 at thetire supplying position X2 during this period (FIG. 1E). accordingly,the tire loading apparatus 2 constituting the moving unit 1 and thelower mold 3 are both in an empty state.

At the same time when the moving unit 1 is moved and the tire loadingapparatus 2 is moved to the tire loading position X1, the lower mold 3is moved to the tire supplying position X2 (FIG. 1A), and thereafter acontinuous operation comprising tire loading, tire supplying and tirevulcanizing is carried out while repeating the operation mentionedabove.

As mentioned above, in the tire vulcanizing apparatus, at the same timewhen the tire loading apparatus 2 reciprocates between the tire loadingposition X1 and the tire supplying position X2 on the basis of thereciprocation of the moving unit 1, the lower mold 3 reciprocatesbetween the tire supplying position X2 and the tire vulcanizing positionX3.

As mentioned above, three positions comprising the tire loading positionX1, the tire supplying position X2 and the tire vulcanizing position X3are set, and the moving unit 1 reciprocates at one time, whereby each ofthe tires T1 and T2 is sequentially moved to one forward position, andthe following processes are respectively applied to the respective movedpositions.

For example, the green tire T1 is set to the lower mold 3 at the tiresupplying position X2 at the same time when the green tire T1 is loadedat the tire loading position X1, and the green tire T1 is received bythe tire elevating apparatus 5 at the tire supplying position X2 at thesame time when the vulcanizing and molding process is executed at thetire vulcanizing position X3.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, in accordance with the tire vulcanizing apparatus ofthe present invention, since three positions comprising the tire loadingposition, the tire supplying position and the tire vulcanizing positionare set as mentioned above, each of the tires sequentially moves to oneforward position in accordance with one reciprocation of the movingunit, and the next process is applied at each of the moved positioned.

Accordingly, it is possible to improve an operation efficiency of acontinuous operation comprising tire loading, tire supplying and tirevulcanizing.

Further, since the tire loading apparatus positively loads the greentire at the tire loading position, it is possible to exclude the cradleand the tire supplying apparatus as is different from the conventionalstructure.

Accordingly, it is possible to exclude an influence applied to each ofthe apparatuses generated together with the matter that it is necessaryto move the cradle in correspondence to the elevating timing of the tiresupplying apparatus, it is possible to reduce a time loss and it ispossible to efficiently vulcanize and mold.

1. A tire vulcanizing apparatus comprising: a tire loading apparatuswhich loads a green tire at a tire loading position and moves the loadedgreen tire to a tire supplying position; a tire elevating apparatuswhich elevates at the tire supplying position so as to receive the greentire on the tire loading apparatus and sets the received green tire to alower mold; and an upper mold which elevates at a tire vulcanizingposition so as to vulcanize and mold the green tire with respect to thelower mold, wherein a moving unit in which said tire loading apparatusand the lower mold are integrally connected is formed, and wherein thetire loading apparatus and the lower mold are, simultaneouslyreciprocated between the respective positions by reciprocating themoving unit.